LNG SYSTEMS

At Wrtsil we strive constantly to do

what is best for you. This includes
optimising the lifecycle value of your
installations by offering precisely what
you need; a promise we can deliver on
since we provide the oil & gas industry
with a broad portfolio of integrated
solutions, products and global services.
Whatever the location, no matter
how harsh the conditions, we deliver
world class efficiency, fuel flexibility,
and environmentally sound solutions
everyday. This is why today, we
are involved in bringing more than
6 percent of the worlds total oil
production to the market.

LNG reliquefaction plant arrangement for a

Q-flex membrane tanker

RELIQUEFACTION SYSTEM FOR LNG CARRIERS

Wrtsil Oil & Gas Systems AS is a
leading supplier of gas carrier cargo
handling technology, as well as
manufacturer of key cargo handling
equipment. Extensive experience with
cargo systems for LPG, ethylene and
LNG handling is the basis of supplying
new solutions in an ever expanding
technically driven environment.
Liquefaction of boil-off gases on
LNG carriers results in increased cargo
deliveries and allows owners and
operators to choose the most optimal
propulsion system. Wrtsil Oil & Gas
Systems holds a worldwide license for
detailed applications and sales of the
patented Moss RSTM LNG reliquefaction
system. The system can be used in
connection with all cargo containment
systems.

LNG carriers have, up to 2006, mainly

been driven by steam turbines. The
boil-off gas from the LNG cargo has so
far been used as fuel. This is a costly
solution that requires special skills during
construction and operation. Alternative
propulsion systems offer far better fuel
economy than steam turbines.
Instead of previous practice using boiloff gas as fuel, the Wrtsil Hamworthy
reliquefaction system establishes a
solution to liquefy the boil-off gas and
return the LNG back to the cargo tanks.
This results in;
ECONOMICAL MERITS
Increased cargo quantity delivered.
The total quantity of LNG loaded can
now be delivered to the customer.
Reduced heel required on ballast
voyage.
Large saving in total fuel
consumption.
Improved propulsion redundancy.
Competitive investment level.

TECHNICAL MERITS
The system uses only proven
components with extensive
references.
The IGC code requires system with
100% redundancy, which is offered
in two alternatives.
The LNG nitrogen content is reduced
during the voyage.
The system is prefabricated in
skid modules for installation and
hook-up on board.
Limited rearrangement of cargo
machinery spaces required.
The system has automatic capacity
control from 100% to 0%.
The system can be stopped when
the cargo pumps are in operation.
This will reduce the need for extra
generator capacity.
No extra personnel are required for
operation and maintenance.

LNG vessel Methane Julia Louise

THE MOSS RSTM CONCEPT

The Moss RSTM concept is based on
a closed nitrogen expansion cycle
extracting heat from the boil-off gas.
The first generation concept was
contracted for 20 membrane type LNG
carriers serving the Qatargas II and
Rasgas III LNG-trains. Several novel
features such as partial liquefaction
and separation of non-condensable
items has resulted in a compact
system.
The 3D image (page 2) shows
the equipment located in the cargo
machinery deck house. Boil-off gas
is removed from the cargo tanks by
means of a two stage centrifugal
compressor, which is similiar to
conventional LD compressors. The
boil-off gas is cooled and condensed
to LNG in a cryogenic heat exchanger
(cold box). Non-condensable items,
mainly nitrogen, are removed in a
separator vessel. From the separator,
the LNG is returned to the cargo tanks
by the differential pressure in the
system.
The cryogenic temperature inside
the cold box is produced by means of

a nitrogen compression-expansion cycle.

The boil-off gas compressor capacity is
adjusted automatically in accordance
with the boil-off rate. Increasing and
decreasing the nitrogen filling - and
thus the compressor mass flow - is the
basic control mechanism for the cooling
capacity of the nitrogen cycle. Sensors
and transmitters provide the required
input signals to a programmable logic
controller which will be part of the main

vessel control system and enables

0-100% capacity control.
The first generation concept is offered
to medium size LNG carriers; however
Wrtsil Oil & Gas Systems has made
innovative decisions and reduced the
power consumption in a range of 15% in
the third generation concept (Mark III) (for
further details see page 4).

Typical N2-compander with coolers

Process flow diagram of a THIRD generation

LNG reliquefaction system

WRTSIL HAMWORTHY THIRD GENERATION (MARK III)

LNG RELIQUEFACTION SYSTEM
The main difference compared with the
first generation is that the LD compressor
unit has an additional compressor stage
and inter-stage cooling. Heat is added
to the boil-off gas before it enters the
main cooling circuit so that the heat of
compression can be removed at high

temperatures in the cooling arrangement.

The additional compressor stage allows
the process to condense the boil-off gas
at high pressure and temperature. This
effect and that the heat of compression is
removed early in the process is the main
reason whereby the power consumption

is reduced by some 15%. High efficiency

is essential for large LNG carriers. The
Mark III system is patented by Wrtsil
Oil & Gas Systems AS and several orders
have already been received.

Typical arrangement of LNG RS Mark III

(2 x 100% capacity and one cold box)

Cold box
N2 reservoir
Pre-heater
LNG pump skid
N2 booster skid

N2 compander

N2 compander

Boil-off gas
compressor

Boil-off gas
compressor
Typical dimensions (metres):
height 7.0 x breadth 20.5 x length 30.0

Wrtsil Hamworthy regasification system

being installed onboard Golar LNG vessel
Nusantara Regas Satu

REGASIFICATION SYSTEM FOR LNG SRVs, FSRUs AND JRUs

Wrtsil Oil & Gas Systems is a leading
supplier of onboard regasification
systems for installation on Shuttle
Regasification Vessels (SRV), Floating
Storage Regasification Vessels (FSRV)
and Floating Storage Regasification
Units (FSRU).
The LNG regasification units are
skid-mounted, very compact and can
easily be arranged on deck. Systems
have capacities of 50 to 1100 tons per
hour and send-out pressures from 46
to 130 bar are available.
As an example, a system with three
units can provide a regasification
capacity of 720 million standard cubic
feet per day and empty a 145,000
cubic meter tanker in approximately
4 days. Each unit has in this case the
capacity to regasify about 210 tons per
hour or about 240 million cubic feet per
day.
By selecting the appropriate number
of units, the send-out capacity can
be adopted to the specific needs of a
project.

The Wrtsil Hamworthy LNG

regasification unit by Wrtsil is designed
for marine installations and for cryogenic
working conditions. Only proven
equipment with extensive references has
been specified, but since it is a novel
design, a small-scale test plant as a joint
industry project with Hoegh LNG has
been set up in Norway for the testing of
two alternative regasification systems.
One using Glycol/Water heated by steam
from a ships boiler system, another
using a cascade system with Propane
and water heating which will give a more
compact system.
It is anticipated that future offshore
terminals will be attractively close to

market areas that have significant

variations in the seawater temperature.
This has been taken into consideration in
the design of the regasification plant.
MAIN ADVANTAGES
A reliable way to regasify LNG with
low risks of freezing the system.
Use of proven equipment with
extensive references.
Operational flexibility with regards to
sending out pressure and capacity.
Compact units.
Short project implementation
schedule, environmentally friendly,
cost efficient and a safe solution.

Wrtsil Hamworthy regasification system on

trial onboard LNG FSRU vessel Golar Winter

Jetty Regas Unit for Petronas Gas Berhad

in Malaysia, featuring Wrtsil Hamworthy
regasification technology

CASCADE
REGASIFICATION
SYSTEM
In this system, LNG is heated by
propane in a closed loop and the
propane is heated by seawater. In
situations where the seawater is
too cold to supply all the required
heating energy, additional heat can be
introduced.
The cascade concept is
recommended instead of directly
heat exchanging with seawater.
LNG heat exchanged directly with
seawater increases the risk of
freezing the seawater in the heat
exchanger. Propane as a secondary
medium is suggested because of its
thermodynamic properties with a low
freezing point.
A HAZID analysis has been carried
out with DNV to identify risks related
to the design and operation of the
regasification system. For example,
it was concluded that the cascade
system is a safer system than the
pure seawater based. LNG enters a
cryogenic pump capable of producing
the required send-out pressure (e.g.
6

up to 130 bar has been studied). LNG at

the required discharge pressure is heated
in two stages.
In the first stage LNG is heated from
-160C to -10C in a compact printed
circuit heat exchanger with propane as a
heating medium.
In the second stage, LNG can be
heated further using seawater as a
heating medium in a shell and tube heat
exchanger.
In the LNG/Propane heat exchanger,
heat is exchanged against propane
circulating in a closed loop. The propane
enters the heat exchanger at approx. 0C

LNG FSRU vessel Golar Freeze (right)

at 4.7 bar as gas. In the heat exchanging

process propane is condensed, and
leaves the exchanger in a liquid state
at approximately -5C. The propane in
the closed loop is then pumped by the
circulating pump and heated against
seawater in titanium semi welded
plate heat exchangers. In these heat
exchangers, the propane is evaporated
and heated to 0C before returning as
gas to the printed circuit heat exchanger.

Wrtsil Hamworthy LNG regasification system

STEAM
REGASIFICATION
SYSTEM

LNG SRV vessel Suez Neptune

Wrtsil Oil & Gas Systems has also

developed a steam heated system for
areas where seawater is not allowed
to be used to heat the LNG.
Such systems are contracted
to Hoegh LNG SRVs for serving
the Neptune offshore terminal at
Massachusetts.
Each unit has 2 x 50% booster
pumps installed in canisters, designed
for a send out pressure of 130 bar.
The LNG is then pumped through
a shell & tube type heat exchanger
heated by a glycol water mixture
which is looped through a compact
heat exchanger with steam from the
SRVs steam system. The natural gas
is then passed to the export manifold.
7

for the marine and energy markets. By emphasising technological

innovation and total efficiency, Wrtsil maximises the environmental

and economic performance of the vessels and power plants of its

customers. Wrtsil is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki, Finland.

WRTSIL is a registered trademark. Copyright 2014 Wrtsil Corporation.

Wrtsil Oil & Gas Systems AS

gasinfo@wartsila.com

WARTSILA.COM

Printed 03/2014 CA

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